Ok, I read that, and it was a fair piece. Maybe Reed is right, CBS simply didn't want him involved with the documentary because they are convinced of and invested in the notion that Rupp was a horrible racist, and they didn't want an opposing view.
But seems to me there's an alternative explanation just as plausible. In short, Reed has no credibility left. We're talking about a shooting star here. As he says, asst. editor of the Herald while still in school, columnist for the Herald, then columnist for the CJ when it was still one of the 10 best papers in the country. All at a very young age. Then to senior writer status at Sports Illustrated, when that magazine was iconic. Then back to the CJ. Then, for reasons I won't speculate about but are routinely speculated about, the bottom dropped out. He will finish his career having written for more unknown fish wraps than imaginable. Those personal problems ruined his career, and zapped his credibility. Maybe CBS is biased and wants to remain so. Or maybe you don't put someone with Reed's history and rep in front of your camera if you care about how the product will be received?
You could be right, but at least according to him he was all set to be part of the panel until CBS learned about his views.
As far as what the truth is regarding CBS' intentions, I guess we'll see who ends up being on the panel. Who else is more credible on this topic to present the UK side?
I would guess Joe B. Hall (who was in his 1st season as assistant coach at UK in 1965-66 and was UK's lead recruiter), Pat Riley (who was a player on the '66 team) or Dave Kindred (an extremely well respected media member who knew Rupp personally and has been a defender of his reputation on this issue) would be possibilities. But not many beyond that, who both knew Rupp first-hand and who would not be outright dismissed by critics.
FWIW, I've heard a few former UK players like Larry Conley etc. use the 'he was a product of his time' argument and not only do I find that a weak argument, but frankly I think it is a disservice to Rupp as it ignores the many positive things Rupp did over his career which helped to promote integration.
As for CBS, they bungled the 25-year anniversary documentary. One of their most egregious moments was when they trotted out the old line about Rupp claiming that 'no five black players could beat my team', a claim which has never been substantiated and which Don Haskins later essentially admitted was made up to get his players psyched for the game.
What did CBS do? They not only ran with the claim, but in the background they showed footage (but no audio) of Rupp at a press conference, which subliminally supported the idea that Rupp MUST have said it (afterall, seeing IS believing, despite the fact that there's absolutely no actual evidence of him saying this, and no mention in the media etc. from any press conference during that time, or ever, of Rupp saying this.)
In fact, the various Texas Western claims about when and where this supposed remark was supposed to have been made have been all over the map. It's clear that Haskins told his black players this remark before the game, but completely unsubstantiated that Rupp himself said it (either to Haskins, any other TW official or to the press etc.)
